Story by
Roundtable Sports
Notre Dame Notebook: Marcus Freeman Talks Home Opening Win Over Rice
- Story byRoundtable Sports
- Notre Dame Notebook: Marcus Freeman Talks Home Opening Win Over Rice
(Michael Caterina, USA TODAY Network)
Notre Dame did exactly what it was expected to do in Saturday's 52-0 win over Rice. The Fighting Irish dispatched their FBS opponent from the American Conference with ease for their second win in as many games to open their 2026 season.
Things have historically not been as easy for Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, who earned just his second home-opening win in his fifth try. Freeman lost home openers to Marshall, Northern Illinois and Texas A&M previously, but his decision to put his team through its usual "bloody Tuesday" physical practice earlier in the week after a physical opener against Wisconsin seemed to set the tone for Saturday's lopsided victory.
Advertisement
"It almost went overboard," Freeman said of the early week practices. "I told them after practice it's one thing to practice hard, it's another thing to practice smart. We can't have guys getting hurt because we're practicing sloppy because we're going so hard. But I love that. When you've got to pull them back, that's a great moment for a head coach. Then the attention to detail yesterday, the attention to detail today.
"I just wanted to try to set the tone from the minute we woke up, the first punt meeting we had, like I wanted to set the tone it that I've got scars and I want you guys to understand that I'm looking for anything," Freeman continued. "I'm looking for somebody not focusing, somebody that's not paying attention -- I'm looking at everything. There's a lot I'm looking at because that's the sense of urgency I have and we have to have for this opportunity."
Heat Seeking Shuler
No Fighting Irish player performed with more physicality Saturday than Adon Shuler. The senior safety separated Owl running back Davis Lane from the ball with a thundering hit on the game's second play to allow Boubacar Traoreto gobble up the loose ball and scurry to the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead. Shuler helped spearhead an Irish defense that limited Rice's hybrid option attack to just 128 total yards, while rushing for 64 and 1.9 yards per carry.
Advertisement
"He's playing extremely physical, Freeman said of Shuler. "Which is a choice. If you guys watch football and you watch teams across the country, man, not everybody plays the way Adon Shuler plays, and it's a choice to play with that type of velocity and violence he does. As a head coach, you appreciate that. You appreciate the way he plays and the intensity and the focus he plays with. He knows he's got room to improve. We want to clean up some missed tackles and those type of things, but everybody does. Man, he is just playing with some velocity right now and causing some big plays because of it."
KVA Is Back At Play
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asamissed last week's season opener against Wisconsin as he continued to recover from a torn ACL he suffered last Nov. 22 against Syracuse. The junior didn't start the game, but he finished with a team-high five tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. He also recovered a late first half fumble that set up a Nolan James, Jrtouchdown to make it 35-0.
Viliamu-Asa also made his presence known shortly after checking into the game when he shot through the middle of the Rice offensive line for a blitzing tackle for loss.
Advertisement
"He made that play in the backfield early," Freeman recalled. "I don't know what down it was, but kind of just chuckled a little bit. I said he's back. He's a great player. It's great to have his energy, his presence, the skill set, the play making ability. It's great to have him back on that field where he belongs. (I am) really proud of him. He did a good job."
Quarterback Debuts
Both backup quarterbacks, Noah Grubbsand Teddy Jararrd, made their career debut against the Owls in the second half. Noah Grubbs entered in the third quarter after CJ Carrhelp the Irish to a 49-0 lead. Grubbs finished 7 of 11 for 78 yards and led the Irish to a 36-yeard field goal from Spencer Portath.
Teddy Jararrd later made his debut in the fourth quarter. He was 2 of 2 for 29 yards on the game's final drive. Jarrard connected with fellow freshman Devin Fitzgeraldon his first career pass attempt.
Advertisement
"It matters," Freeman said of the experience for the young signal callers. "Everything matters, right? The amount of plays, both of them getting to play in Notre Dame Stadium in a real game, how they played, it all matters. I think it's a great opportunity for us to coach them, to evaluate them on a different level than practice, where the play clocks matter, the formations matter, everything matters. But it's valuable experience that hopefully we continue to get opportunities to get them out there because you never know when it's going to be a game-winning situation."
